Time control switch mechanism



Patented Jan. 16, 1940 TIME CONTROL SWITCH MECHANISM Robert B. Foster, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner to John B. Smiley, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application January 11, 1937, Serial No. 120,016

12 Claims.

My present invention relates to time control switch mechanism, particularly adapted for the control of automatic radio reception.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a time control switch mechanism of this class whereby the control of the beginning and termination of a rprogram period, or the change of a program in radio reception, is reduced to an extremely small interval of time so that no appreciable portion of a program is lost.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a mechanism of this class whereby no arc takes place during the make and break of electric contacts in electric circuits, thereby not only prolonging the life and eiiiciency of operation of the mechanism, but also eliminating undesirable noises in the radio reception.

A further and necessary object also is the provision of a novel, simple, and economical structure for effecting these functions.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, I have devised a switch mechanism of this class having certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of reference thereon, which forms a part of this application, in which:

The figure is a diagrammatic View showing my new switch mechanism of my radio control apparatus.

The present invention is coniined particularly to the electromagnetic switch mechanism, designated A in the drawing, and the time switch mechanism, designated B.

The general combination of my radio control apparatus is disclosed in my vcopending patent application, Serial No. 687,217, entitled Control apparatus for radio receiving sets, iiled August 28, 1923, and terminating in United States Letters Patent No. 2,075,809. Reference will be had to the speciiication of the same for detailed description of devices, apparatus and functions not specically described herein.

The tuning condenser, not shown, of the radio receiving set, for which my control apparatus is adapted, is operated by the shaft I rotated by the motor 2, which is controlled directly and initially by the electromagnetic switch mechanism A. To the shaft is operatively connected the selective tuning means disclosed in my copending application. It consists essentially of a rotary disc II and a concentric stationaryl disc I2, the

former carrying an insulating strip I3 and the latter a plurality of electric contacts I4 insulated from the disc I2 and arcuately spaced to correspond to the broadcast station spaces on the tuning condenser (not shown). The contacts I4 normally contact the disc I I, but are sequentially insulated therefrom by the insulating strip I3 as the disc II is rotated.

The electromagnetic switch mechanism A comprises a coil or magnet 2l and an armature 22 which carries a plurality of three flexible switch members 23, 24, and 25, insulated from each other and from the armature. The latter switch member is permanently electrically connected through the coil with a source of energy, such as a battery 25. When the coil is deenergized the leaf or member 25 engages a contact 2l which is connected by wire 28 with a brush 29- which normally engages the periphery of an insulating member, such as a fibre disc 3|, mounted on the minute shaft 32 of a clock 33. This disc has four equal-arcuately spaced notches 3Ia into which the free end of the brush 29 may drop during the rotation of the disc. When the brush drops into a notch it engages a grounded finger 35. The grounding cf the nger 30, however, is effected only at predetermined periods, as will be described hereafter. For this purpose, it is conn nected by a wire 30a, to an arm 43, mounted on but insulated (not shown) from the hour shaft of the clock 33. Thus the circuit to the coil is `completed and the armature attracted, but energizing of the magnet, instantly breaks the aforementioned circuit.

Such energizing of the magnet causes the switch member 25 to engage another contact 4I which is connected by wire 42 to the switch arm 43. This clock carries a plurality of contacts 44 circumferentially elongated and circumferentially spaced about the axis of the clock, and spaced at fifteen minute intervals from each other. These contacts form holding switches with the contact arm 43. Each of the contacts 44 is connected by a wire 45 to a separate jack 46 in the panel or jack board 4l. This board is shown provided with 48 jacks, one for each l5- minute-interval during a 12-hour period.

The jacks 46 may be connected by cables or cords 5I with jacks 52 on a panel or board 53. Each of the latter jacks is connected by a wire 54 to a contact I4 on the disc i2. The disc Il is grounded, and eects the ground previously referred to in connection with the finger 3Q. Thus, at the designated time, and with the proper connections by the cords 5I, the circuit will be continued through the magnet, holding the armature in the attracted or dotted line position.

As the armature is attracted by the magnet the loud speaker is disconnected by the switch member 24, breaking the circuit 6I. At the same time the circuit 62 from the generator B3 to the motor 2 is closed. This rotates the disc Il until the insulating strip I3 engages the contact I4 which corresponds to the broadcast station or tuning condenser marking desired.

In the drawing, I have shown the tuning condenser and the selective tuning means adjusted by the contact I4 which has engaged the insulate ing strip I3, during the interval from 12:00 to 12:15. The disc Il was so rotated by reason of the cord 5l having connected jacks 46 and 52. At 12:15, the magnet will attract and hold the armature, as described above. The cord 5I", connecting the jacks 46 and 52", will hold the armature until the motor 2 rotates the disc Il until the insulating strip I3 engages the contact I4, shifting the tuning condenser to the corresponding station.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions-I do not wish to be limited to the same, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination, and arrangement, substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A time control switch mechanism for automatic radio reception, comprising a clock having a uniformly revolving shaft with a notched disc having uniformly spaced notches, a switch having opposed flexible lingers, one being longer than the other and adapted to engage the disc and thereby to be held disengaged from the other nger, the long linger adapted to dro-pI into one of the notches upon the rotation of the disc and.

contact the short nger, an electromagnet, a circuit -for the electromagnet and the switch, an armature normally closing said circuit and arranged to break the circuit when the electromagnet is energized, a second circuit for the electromagnet, said armature, when said magnet is energized, closing said second circuit, and a motor controlled switch for automatically breaking said second electromagnet energizing circuit after predetermined operation.

2. A time control switch mechanism for auto- .matic radio reception, comprising a clock having a uniformly revolving shaft with a notched disc having uniformly spaced notches, a switch having opposed ilexible ngers, one being longer than the other and adapted to engage the disc and thereby to be held disengaged from the other finger, the long nger adapted to drop into one of the notches upon the rotation of the discand contact the short finger, an electromagnet, a circuit for the electromagnet and the switch, an armature normally closing said circuit and arranged to break the circuit when the electromagnet is energized, a second circuit for the electromagnet, said armature, when said magnet is energized, closing said second circuit, a motor controlled switch for automatically breaking said second electromagnet energizing circuit, a motor for the latter switch, and a switch in connection with the armature for energizing the motor when the magnet is energized, said electromagnet being deenergized by the motor controlled switch after predetermined operation of the motor.

3. In a time control switch mechanism for automatic radio reception, the combination with a radio` tuning motor circuit, of a clock, a switch means in connection with a uniformly revolving member of the clock for closing the switch at a predetermined period, an electromagnet, a circuit for the electromagnet and the switch, an armature normally closing said circuit and arranged to break the circuit when the electromagnet is energized, a second circuit for the electromagnet, said armature, when said magnet is energized, closing said second circuit and said motor circuit, and a motor controlled switch having a controlling motor in the motor circuit, the latter switch automatically breaking said second electromagnet energizing circuit after predetermined operation of said motor controlled switch.

4. In a time control switch mechanism for automatic radio reception, the combination with a radio tuning motor circuit and a loud speaker circuit, of a clock, a switch means in connection with a uniformly revolving member of the clock for closing the switch at a predetermined period,

an electromagnet, a circuit for the electromagnet and the switch, an armature normally closing said circuit and arranged to break the circuit when the electromagnet is energized, said armature, when the electromagnet is energized, also breaking the loud speaker circuit and closing the motor circuit, a second magnet energizing circuit closed when the magnet is energized for continuing the energizing of the magnet, a motor in the motor circuit, and a tuning vswitch operated by the motor and connected with the second magnet energizing circuit for breaking the latter magnet energizing circuit and the motor circuit when the tuning means in connection with the tuning switch is operated the desired amount.

5. In a time control switch mechanism, a clock, a switch means in connection with a uniformly revolving member of the clock for closing the switch means at a predetermined period, an electromagnet, a circuit for the magnet and the switch means, an armature normally closing said circuit when the switch means is closed by said member, said armature being arranged to break the circuit when the electromagnet is energized, a second circuit for the electromagnet, said armature, when said magnet is energized, closing said second circuit, a motor controlled switch for automatically breaking said second electromagnet energizing circuit, a motor for the latter switch, and a switch in connection with the armature for energizing the motor when the magnet is energized, said electromagnet being deenergized by the motor controlled switch after predetermined operation of the motor.

6. In a time control switch mechanism, a clock, a holding switch in the clock consisting of a stationary contact and a revolving contact, an instant switch in the clock, means in connection with a uniformly revolving member of the clock for closing the instant switch at a predetermined period and when the holding switch is closed, an electromagnet, a circuit for the magnet and bo-th switches, an armature normally closing said circuit when said switches are closed by the clock and said means, said armature being arranged to break the circuit when the magnet is energized, a second circuit for the magnet and the holding switch, said armature, when said magnet is energized, closing said second circuit, a motor controlled switch for automatically breaking the latter electromagnet energizing circuit, a motor for the latter switch, and a switch in connection with the armature for energizing the motor when the magnet is energized, saidelectromagnet being deenergized by the motor controlled switch after predetermined operation of the motor.

7. In a time control switch mechanism, a clock, a switch means in connection with a uniformly revolving member of the clock for closing the switch means at a predetermined period, an electromagnet, a circuit for the magnet and the switch means, an armature normally closing said circuit when the switch means is closed by said member, said armature being arranged to break the circuit when the electromagnet is energized, a second circuit for the electromagnet, said armature, when said magnet is energized, closing said second circuit, and a motor controlled switch for automatically breaking said second electromagnet energizing circuit after predetermined operation.

8. In a time control switch mechanism, a clock, a holding switch and an instant switch in the clock, means in connection with a uniformly revolving member of the clock for closing the instant switch at a predetermined period and when the holding switch is closed, an electromagnet, a circuit for the magnet and both switches, an armature normally closing said circuit when said switches are closed by the clock and said means, said armature being arranged to break the circuit when the magnet is energized, and a second circuit forl the magnet and only the holding switch, said armature, when said magnet is energized, closing said second circuit.

9. In a time control switch mechanism, a clock, a holding switch and an instant switch in the clock, means in connection with a uniformly revolving member of the clock for closing the instant switch at a predetermined period and when the holding switch is closed, an electromagnet, a circuit for the magnet and both switches, an

, armature normally closing said circuit when said ing said second circuit, and a motor controlled switch for automatically breaking said second electromagnet energizing circuit after predetermined operation.

10. In a control switch mechanism, a holding switch, an instant switch, means for closing both switches, an electromagnet, a circuit including the magnet and both switches, an armature nor mally closing said circuit when said switches are closed by said means, said armature being arranged to break the circuit when the magnet is energized, and a second circuit including the magnet and only the holding switch of the former switches, said armature, when said magnet isenergized, closing said second circuit.

11. In a control switch mechanism, a holding switch, an instant switch, means for closing both switches, an electromagnet, a circuit including the magnet and both switches, an armature nor- Inally closing said circuit when said switches are closed by said means, said armature being arranged to break the circuit when the magnet is energized, a second circuit including the magnet and only the holding switch of the former switches, Said armature, when said magnet is energized, closing said second circuit, and a motor controlled switch for automatically breaking said second electromagnet energizing circuit after predetermined operation.

12. In a control switch mechanism, a switch means, an electromagnet, a circuit for the magnet and the switch means, an armature for the magnet normally closing said circuit when the switch means is closed, said armature being arranged to break the circuit when the electromagnet is energized, a second circuit for the electromagnet and said armature, said armature, when said magnet is energized, closing lsaid second circuit, and a motor operated switch controlled by said second electromagnet energizing circuit for breaking the latter circuit after predetermined operation of the motor.

ROBERT B. FOSTER. 

